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Introduction
Stilts are simple to make and fun to play with. Below you will find step by step instructions on how to make your own stilts. This is a great project for kids 12 years or older to complete with adult supervision.
These stilts have adjustable footrests and can be played with by kids aged about 8 years to grown ups.
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Use Good Tools Safely :
Woodwork projects are far easier if you use good quality tools wherever you can. Although kids of about twelve yeras old can do this project, try to use "adult" tools. The handsaw should be sharp. Use an 8-point (8 teeth per inch) handsaw for general cutting. For safety reasons only an adult should use power tools. Mark where any holes need to be drilled and then ask an adult to do the drilling.
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Materials and Tools
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Materials Checklist |
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Two pieces of 70 x 35 x 1800mm dressed (smooth) pine for the stilt legs. This is available from your local Mitre 10 store. For strength, ensure the timber is straight grain (the grain runs long ways) and that there are no knobs.
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One piece of pine 70 x 35 x 400mm as a guide for the handsaw (this can be an offcut from the wood above). |
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Two pieces of 90 x 45 x 180mm dressed (smooth) pine for the footrests. This size is used for interior wall framing and is probably one of the most readily available timbers. |
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Four of each 150 x 10mm coach bolts, washers and wing nuts. |
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A piece of sandpaper. |
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Tools Checklist |
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Clamp (x2)
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Sharp hand saw |
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Measuring Tape |
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Hammer |
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Pencil |
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Set square |
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Electric Drill (get an adult to use anything electrical) |
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11mm Drill Bit |
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Saw horse or work stool |
Instructions on Making a Stilts
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STEP 1 - Measure and Mark the Holes.
Carefully measure and mark the drill holes for one stilt leg. Mark the first hole 200mm from the base of one leg. Now mark another 100mm up from there and then another 100mm further up. Continue this way until you've marked seven holes. The measurements are shown in the diagram below.
Do the same on the other stilt leg, then lay them beside each other to check they match.
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STEP 2 - Measure and Mark the Footrests
Carefully measure and mark the drill holes for the first footrest. Ensure the marks are exactly 100mm apart so that they'll line up with the holes in the stilt legs. Do the same thing on the other footrest. Then ask an adult to drill the holes in the stilt legs and the footrests. They should drill all the holes 11mm in diameter. This is slightly bigger than the bolt thickness.
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STEP 3 - Mark the Handles
Mark the handle line shown in the diagram below onto a stilt leg. The purpose of this is to create a slimmer handle that will be easier to grip. Do the same on the other stilt leg.
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STEP 4 - Cut the Handles
Use a sharp handsaw to cut along the handle line marked on a stilt leg. Make sure the leg is clamped firmly to a sawhorse or workbench. Clamp the piece of offcut timber against the cutting line as a guide for the saw. Do not use your hand as a guide. Once you have cut down about 100mm, a guide won't be necessary. Take is slowly with the cutting. If the leg wobbles, then it is probably not secured firmly to the sawhorse or the overhand is too long. In that case, reclamp it.
Sand any rough edges then repeat the process with the other stilt leg.
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STEP 5 - Fit the Footrests
Line up the holes in the footrests with the holes in the stilt legs and push the coach bolts through the holes. Once through, place a washer on each bolt followed by a wing nut. Tighten the wing nuts by hand, and then the stilts are ready to use. If it is your first time on stilts, start by bolting the footrests to the two lowest holes in the stilt legs. you can raise them higher after a bit of practise.
Go and enjoy safely! Remember to only use the stils where the ground is even.
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Helpful Stuff:
Wing nuts can be tightened and untightened with just your fingers. it saves looking for a spanner every time you want to change the height of footrests.
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This project is taken from the book "Mitre 10, DIY for Kids, Book One" written by Les Kenny.
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